“Cinema Industry should focus beyond sexual harassment”: panel on Mediacon 2025

The Hema Committee’s Report, which studied the prevalence of sexual harassment and imbalances in the Malayalam film industry, was a central discussion point on Thursday, January 30, at Mediacon 2025 – an international conference that holds a school of communication and media at St. Joseph University. Mediacon 2025 is a two-day event. More than 2000 visitors took part in the event.

In his introductory address, the actor and director Kryshna Hebbal stated that the film industry is as safe as any other, with only a small proportion responsible for the problems in the workplace. “Ninety -five percent of the film industry is as safe as any other industry. Only a handful of people creates a black sign, ”he said. He emphasized that the existence of a report made people more aware of their actions.

The event was headed by Dr. Melvin Kolako, the registrar of St. Joseph University; D -pm of the land, the passage of SCM; and Student Coordinators of Shoyb Shakel and Rakshit Boppana.

The panel discussion, which derived from further capacity, in the field of structure, gender dynamics and working conditions in the industry, as well as broader consequences of the report. The session was moderated by journalist Anjan George. The speakers included actor Sruti Harharand, a member of the movie “Women in the Cinema of the Collective” Miriam Joseph and journalist Nandini Chandrashekar. It should be recalled that Sruti Harcharan became a prominent figure in the #Metoo movement in the Kannada film industry after she opposed actor Arjun Sarja, accusing him of misconduct.

Speaking in the West, Miriam Joseph said that the situation of women in the movie industry is “worse than slavery.” She argued that the industry remains largely unregulated, allowing a small, influential group of men to have uninterrupted power over hire, production solutions and projects.

“The committee’s report indicates the operation, extortion, ban and intimidation. These practices were normalized so much that many people hesitate to speak, fearing revenge, ”she said.

She also criticized the focus of the industry for sexual misconduct as a major question, arguing that it worsens broader systemic failures. “Sexual harassment is just one part of the problem. The real question is the lack of labor rights, the lack of contracts and the tactics of intimidation used against those who refuse to perform the system, ”she said.

The discussion also sheds light on gender differences in pay and control over financial resources. Joseph challenged the idea that male entities earn a higher salary based on market demand. “If the payment is based on how much money the star brings, why the salaries of male actors remain unchanged even after a few flops? On the other hand, women try to get fair compensation regardless of the success of their movie,” she said.

In addition, it emphasized the way of production structure, often giving the priority of the subjects of men. “Sixty-sixty-five percent of the film’s budget often switch to one male actor, and the remaining thirty-five percent is expected to cover everyone else from technicians to marketing,” she added.

Sruti Haricharand reflected on progress, but stated that the pace of change remains slow. “Yes, everything is being improved, but the system still contributes to those who are in power. It’s a long transportation, and we need to continue to insist, ”she said. She also spoke about the creation of the internal complaints in the Cannada film industry, noting that “the presence of ICC is one step, but if it does not include the right people, how effective it will be? only subjects of discussion. “

Speaking of media coverage of such sensitive issues, Nandini Chandrashekar said: “The media, as a rule, focus on the most sensational aspects of history. When the Hema Committee’s report was mentioned, most of the titles focused on sexual harassment, but real problems – conditions, lack of contracts and economic exploitation – were largely ignored, “she said.

She stressed the need for responsible reporting, stating: “Journalists are obliged to go beyond the surface at the surface level. We need to question energy structures, study financial control in the industry and identify wider systemic failures. “

Joseph noted that the lack of proper rules in the Indian film industry was also a key factor that states that other sectors have established labor laws and protection, while cinema remains largely outside these framework. “OTT studios and platforms have brought a certain level of accountability, but many traditional industrial buildings continue to resist regulation, as transparency will mean a change in the way of work,” she said. Chandrazekar added: “I worked on international projects where contracts covered every detail, providing fair treatment of all crew members. The Indian industry has the opportunity to do it, but the question is whether they want?”

At the end of the discussion, Hariharand urged students to stay involved in these conversations. “It’s not just about actors or people in this field. It is about the rights in the workplace, fair payment and dignity at work. There will be a single way of change if we continue to interrogate and demand the best, ”she said.